Did athletes from Cameroon defect to Great Britain?
Seven of the African nation’s 60 athletes, including its entire boxing team, have disappeared from London’s Olympic Village. None had officially sought asylum in Great Britain by Tuesday, but they are expected to remain in Europe for economic reasons. In an unrelated development, several Sudanese runners turned up in a British police station requesting asylum. Olympic defections are not unheard of. An Iraqi weightlifter sought asylum in Atlanta in 1996.
Could D.C. host the Olympics?
The Washington/Baltimore region lost its bid to host the 2012 Olympics, but Dan Knise, a leader of the 2012 efforts, told the Baltimore Sun he’s held “some informal discussions” with others about making a bid for the 2024 Games. Some regional officials have voiced tentative support for another try. Still, the concept would require collaboration among D.C., Maryland and Virginia — a task that has often proved challenging.
Has a woman ever refereed an NFL game?
On Thursday, Shannon Eastin will become the first woman to referee an NFL game when she joins the officiating crew for the exhibition game between the Green Bay Packers and the San Diego Chargers. Regular NFL referees are locked out, and Easton, from Phoenix, is part of the San Diego replacement crew. Easton has refereed several high school and small-college conferences. The game will be televised on ESPN.
